Rio Ferdinand has worked his backside off in the last 12 months to get back to full fitness for Manchester United.

The veteran defender admits his coaching badges have been forced to the backburner due to the commitments needs to meet to keep his back in shape.

"I have so much maintenance at the moment - physical stuff - it's hard to do things like my coaching badges," Ferdinand told the Daily Mail. 'I have to go to London once a fortnight and do stuff before and after matches to keep myself in condition.

"It can be gruelling, of course, but it has been worth it. I have played loads of football this season.

"People have a certain view of a footballer's lifestyle but it's not always accurate.

"Some just assume that I finish football, go shopping, have something to eat at a beautiful restaurant and then go to a red carpet event or an opening of something.

"That couldn't be further from the truth for a top footballer. If you want to be at the top then you can't do that. In the end everything will fall apart. I just try to have as normal a day as I possibly can."